UKGBC to launch energy efficiency project
The UKGBC will examine the way industry currently designs, constructs and operates non-domestic buildings, along with their environmental impact, in an effort to highlight the gap between the expected and the actual performance of buildings over time.
The company argues that there is an increasingly large body of evidence which shows that predictions of the whole building performance are often not accurately made or communicated, with the research seeking to identify gaps and barriers that need to be overcome across the industry.
Julie Hirigoyen, CEO of the UK-GBC, believes more emphasis on how well buildings operate can lead to major gains for companies in the industry.
“Huge cost, carbon and productivity benefits can be gained through a closer focus on the performance of buildings as we design, construct and operate them. Following the COP21 deal, this is just one of the ways in which the UK industry is showing its leadership and ambition," she said.
The Delivering Building Performance project, pioneered by the UK-GBC Steps to 2019 Task Group, will also involve a number of UK-GBC members in order to explore what companies are already doing to address the issue of building performance, with BuroHappold, Saint-Gobain and Tarmac Group sponsoring the scheme.
Emma Hines, sustainable construction manager at Tarmac, emphasises how the project aims to develop a deeper understanding of how better building performance can be delivered.
“The research provides an opportunity to explore the actions needed to address the performance gap, and highlights the importance of whole life thinking in designing sustainability into the envelope of a structure to deliver long term benefits," she said.
Mark Allen, technical director at Saint-Gobain UK, added: “Following the sponsorship of COP21, our work with the task group further demonstrates our commitment to a sustainable habitat for future generations. If we are to deliver a truly sustainable future, the industry must collaborate and share expertise to find robust solutions that enhance our habitat and our daily lives."
